Driving mechanism for laundry washing-machines.



E. W. BLUM.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1910.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

3 BHEBTSSHEET 1.

l 1 A 7 V V v COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 50.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

E. W. BLUM.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1910.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 773572 96 s es B. W. BLUM. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY WASHINGMACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJQ, 1910. '1,043,1 95, Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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OFFIQE.

EDVIARD W. BLUlVI, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY WASHING-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD WV. BLUM, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDriving Mechanism for Laundry ashing- Machines, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the driving mechanism for washing machines suchas are employed in laundries and driven by power, and the object of theinvention is to improve the efficiency of such driving mechanism andobviate the disadvantages experienced with those constructions ofmachines ordinarily in use by that novel construction and arrangement ofparts to be hereinafter particularly pointed out and claimed.

Power washers ordinarily embody a horizontally disposed and fixedcylindrical casing mounted in fixed standards at the ends and with thefixed standards held together by tie rods. IVithin the fixed cylinder ismounted an oscillatory or rotary cylinder for the clothes to be cleaned,which cylinder is rotated or oscillated first in one direction and thenin the other. The means employed for reversing the rotation of thecylinder has ordinarily consisted of a tight driving pulley and a pairof loose pulleys with two belts, one straight and the other crossed, andbelt shifting devices to shift the straight and the crossed beltsalternatelyto the tight driving pulley. Wide belts cannot beconvenient-1y used on account of ditliculty of shifting and the narrowbelts required are readily affected, weakened and destroyed by the steamand heat. Moreover with lighter belts and constant shifting, high speedcannot be obtained.

One of the special features of my invention therefore consists of mynovel construction whereby I am able to provide a single driving pulleyalways driven in the same direction with transmission gearing forrotating and reversing the rotatory cylinder. In this way I am able toemploy a wide belt and to drive the machine at much greater speed, andwith heavier load.

Another feature consists in providing a solid and substantial frameworkfor the machine for supporting the operating mecha- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed August 19, 1910.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

Serial No. 577,964.

nism and for binding together the end standards whereby liability to sagand warp and to get out of alinement incident to the ordinary frames ofpower washers is obviated.

Other features of novelty consist in the means provided forautomatically locking the rotatory cylinder when the driving pulley isdisconnected to stop the operation of the machine and in which therotatory cylinder is locked always in position to permit free accessthereto for the clothes.

Other features of novelty and invention will be particularly referred toin connection with the description of the operating parts.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved machine.Fig. 2 is a detail of the cam mechanism for look ing the inner cylinder.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the power mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detailsectional view taken on the line 4:, 4, of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a similarsection taken on the lines 5, 5, of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a similar sectiontaken on the lines 6, 6, of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a section of the clutchmechanism taken on the lines 7 7, of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a cross sectionof the entire machine taken on the lines 8, 8, of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is anend elevation of the front end of the frame. Fig. 10 is a similarelevation of the rear end of the frame. Fig. 11 is a side elevation ofthe frame structure. Fig. 12 is a plan view, partly in section, showingthe method of mounting the driving pulley. Fig. 13 is a detail frontelevation of the parts shown in Fig. 12.

l and 2 are the substantial end standards for the framework of themachine. The front end standard has securely bolted to it a frame plate3, provided with the necessary bosses and hubs for mounting theoperating parts, in order to provide a solid and substantial end frame.The rear end frame 2 is also provided with a frame plate 4, having acentral boss 5 to form the journal bearing for the rotatory cylindershaft. These two end frames are solidly braced and secured together bythe side plates 6, 7, bolted to the ends so as to form a solid andsubstantial framework, and in this framework is fixedly mounted ahorizontally disposed fiXed cylinder or frame 8 which forms the outercasing of the washing machine. This fixed cylinder is usually formed ofmetal or of staves properly bound together with hoop bands, but thematerial and construction of the cylinders is not of importance. Theouter cylinder is provided with a door 9 to give access to the innerrotating cylinder. This inner cylinder is of the usual perforatedconstruction, provided lengthwise on the inside with ribs 11 forstirring the clothes, and closed at the ends by the walls 12, each endwall being provided with a plate 13 carrying the axle 14 at theoperating end and the axle 15 in line therewith at the opposite end. Theaxle 15 is journaled in the hub bearing 5 at the rear end and the axle14 is journaled in the plate 3 at the front end. The axle or shaft 14 isrotated in either direction by the power driven mechanism of the machineto rotate the inner cylinder first in one direction and then in theother.

Keyed to the outer end of the shaft 14 is a disk 16, provided with thehub 17, upon which is loosely mounted the gear 18. The front face of thegear 18 is recessed to re ceive the split friction ring or band 19 whichengages the overhanging flange of the gear 18 on the inside. Thisfriction band is secured by the pin 20 to the inner face of the disk 16.The clutch band 19 is split, and between the ends of the band isinserted a square pin 21, which is formed cylindrical to pass through anaperture in the disk 16 and has secured thereto on the outside of thedisk the lever 22. The lower end of this lever is spring-pressed by thecoiled spring 23, mounted on a rod 24 which passes through a projectionon the lower end of the lever 22, and is secured to the disk 16, thespring bearing betweenan adjustable nut 25 on the end of the rod and theface of the lower end of the lever 22. In this way, the lever will benormally swung toward the right to turn the square end of the pin 21 soas to expand the friction band 19 and obtain a friction clutch betweenthe disk 16 and the gear 18. The gear 18 meshes with the gear 26 mountedon the stud 27, bolted to the frame plate 3, and the hub of this gearengages a pinion 28 which in turn engages the sector rack 29 mounted onthe stud 30 also bolted to the frame plate 3. The stud 30 carries thearm 31, which engages the sector 29, and the outer end of this arm isconnected by the link 32 with the crank pin 33 on the gear 34, alsojournaled in the frame plate. The gear 34 meshes with the pinion 35mounted on the shaft 36 which shaft is in turn mounted in the inolosingframe 37 on the lever 38, which is pivotally mounted on the boss 39 onthe frame plate 3.

Mounted on the elongated hub 40 of the pinion 35 is the driving pulley41. In order to take up the shock when starting the machine, this pulleyis not keyed to the pinion 35 but loosely mounted on the pinion hub.

Keyed or otherwise secured on the outer end of the pinion hub is a plate42 bifurcated at each end at 43, and studs 44 on the driving pulleyengaged in these bifurcations. There is sufiicient lost motion in thisconstruction and sufficient resiliency in the forks to take up the shockexperienced in coupling the driving pulley and pinion, when driven bysuitable belt, with the gear 34 in starting the machine.

It will be evident that with the transmis sion construction described,by the rotation of the driving pulley 41 in one direction by the drivingbelt or otherwise, that the sector rack 29 will be oscillated to rotatethe shaft of the inner cylinder of the machine, first in one directionand then in the other. No belt shifting device is required and as wideand heavy a belt as required may be used and the mechanism driven at anydesired speed.

The machine mechanism is instantly disconnected from the drivingmechanism by disconnecting the driving pinion 35 from the gear 34 byraising the lever 38 on which the driving mechanism is mounted. It isimportant, however, that the machine should not be stopped except whenthe door 10 in the rotating cylinder is in register with the door 9 inthe outer casing and that the inner cylinder should be locked in thisposition. In order to accomplish this I provide as follows: The lever 38extends across the end of the machine and is held down in lockedposition with the pinion 35 in engagement with the gear by the latch 45pivoted to the frame at 46. The lower end of this latch is engaged bythe spring 47, so that normally the latch engages the outer end of thelever 38 and holds the same locked down. The latch 45 is pushed back torelease the lever 38 by the beveled lug 48 mounted on the inner face ofthe cam secured to the pin 50, which pin is rocked by the handle 51. Thecam 49 is in the shape of a half disk, and as the handle 51 is raisedabove the horizontal position illustrated in Fig. 1, the flat surface ofthe cam will raise the lever 38, the latch 45 having been released bythe lug 48. There is another cam 52 secured to the pin 50, which isprovided with a notch 53, which engages a corresponding notch 54 in theouter end of the lever 55, which is pivoted at 56 to the main lever 38,so that as long as this lever 55 stands in its normal position, the mainlever cannot be raised. The lever 55 has a depending arm 57 whichcarries the dog 58, pivoted on its lower end, and when the lever 38 isin its lowermost position, resting on the supporting block 60 secured tothe frame, and the handle 51 in a horizontal position, the dog 58projects into the pathway of the cam 59 which is formed on the annularband 75 mounted and secured by screws on the periphery of the disk 16.The handle 51 normally stands inclined downwardly as shown in Fig. 2,and in this position the cam 52 raises up the lever 55 so that the dog58 is not within the pathway of the cam 59. When, however, the handle 51is raised into the horizontal position shown in Fig. l, the lever 55drops down bringing the end of the dog which is weighted at 62 withinthe pathway of the cam 59. WVhen the disk 16 is rotated in onedirection, the dog will simply swing on its pivot, but when the disk isrotated in the other direction, the cam 59 will raise the dog and withit the lever 55, taking the end of the lever out of the pathway of thecam 52 and allowing the handle 51 to be entirely raised. This movementcauses the lever 38 to be raised and the pinion 35 to be disconnectedfrom the gear 34. The cam 59 is located in such timed relation to theposition of the door 10 in the rotating cylinder that when the camraises the lever 55, the door of the inner cylinder will register withthe opening through the fixed case.

Secured on the end face of the rotating cylinder is a catch plate 63,while 64 is a shot bolt projecting through a boss 65 on the end frame.The outer end of this bolt is provided with a roller 66 which is engagedby the latch 67 pivoted at 68 to the frame. The bolt 64 is preventedfrom rotating by the bent rod 69 which passes through an opening in thebolt and is bent inwardly to engage a hole 70 in the face of the boss 65(shown in Fig. 5).

71 is a spring normally pressing the bolt 64 inwardly, and the bolt isheld in its outward position by the latch 67. The lower end of the latchis engaged by a projection 72 on the lever 38, so that when the lever isheld in its normal locked position, the bolt 64 will be held out ofengagement with the catch plate63. The moment the lever 38 is raised ashereinbefore described to disconnect the driving mechanism, and whichdisconnection can only be made as hereinbefore described when theopenings in the two cylinders are in register, the latch 67 is releasedand the bolt projected inwardly by the spring 71. This action is sotimed that the bolt will be thrown inwardly just after the notch in thecatch plate 63 has passed the bolt, and the weight of the clothes in ther0- tating cylinder will cause the inner cylinder to move in theopposite direction, thus allowing the bolt to engage the catch withoutjar. As long as the bolt is in engagement with the latch and thecylinder is locked, the heel of the latch will stand in the pathway ofthe projection 72 on the lever 38, so that the driving pulley and gearwill be held out of engagement with the driving train of gear as long asthe cylinder is locked in position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with asupport and a rotary member mounted therein, of a single driving pulleyhaving constant rotary movement, a swinging frame within which thedriving pulley is mounted, connecting mechanism intermediate the pulleyand the rotary member, a catch to lock the swinging frame, and means forreleasing said catch to shift the swinging frame to disconnect theconnecting mechanism.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with asupport and a rotary member mounted therein, of a single driving pulleyhaving constant rotary movement, a swinging frame within which thedriving pulley is mounted, connecting mechanism intermediate the pulleyand the rotary member, a catch to locl: the swinging frame, and meansfor releasing said catch, and a lock for said releasing means saidrotary member having a cam to shift said lock, whereby the drivingpulley may be disconnected only in predetermined positions of the rotarymember.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with asupport and a rotary member mounted therein, of a single driving pulleyhaving constant rotary movement, a swinging frame within which thedriving pulley is mounted, connecting mech anism intermediate the pulleyand the rotary member, a catch to lock the swinging frame, and means forreleasing said catch, a lever tolock said releasing means, and a dogpivotally mounted on said lever the connecting mechanism having a cam tocontact with said dog to shift the lever, whereby the driving pulley maybe disconnected only at predetermined positions of the rotary member.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with asupport and a rotary member mounted therein, of a single driving pulleyhaving constant rotary movement, a swinging frame within which thedriving pulley is mounted, connecting mechanism intermediate the pulleyand the rotary member, a catch to lock the swinging frame, and means forreleasing said catch to shift the swinging frame to disconnect theconnecting mechanism, and a bolt to lock the rotary member normallyinactive, with means for operating said bolt actuated by the movement ofthe swinging frame in disconnecting the driving pulley.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with asupport and a rotary member mounted therein, of a single driving pulleyhaving constant rotary movement, a swinging frame within which thedriving pulley is mounted, connecting mechanism intermediate the pulleyand the rotary member, a catch to lock the swinging frame, and means forreleasing said catch, and a lock for said releasing means said rotarymember having a cam to shift said lock, whereby the driving pulley maybe disconnected only in predetermined positions of the rotary member,and a bolt to lock the rotary member normally inactive, with means foroperating said bolt actuated by the movement of the swinging frame indisconnecting the driving pulley.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with asupport and a rotary member and shaft mounted therein, with means forrotating same alternately in opposite directions, of a bolt mounted inthe frame to lock the rotary member thereto, means to prevent thelocking of said bolt, means for disconnecting the driving power, and acam connected with said rotary shaft, to release said locking bolt atpredetermined positions of the rotary member.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with asupport and a rotary member and shaft mounted therein, with means forrotating same alternately in opposite directions, means fordisconnecting the driving power, a device to prevent disconnecting and acam connected with said rotary shaft to release said device to permitdisconnection.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with asupport and a rotary member and shaft mounted therein, with means forrotating same alternately in opposite directions, means fordisconnecting the driving power, a device to prevent disconnecting and acam connected with said rotary shaft to release said device to permitdisconnection, a bolt mounted in the frame to lock the rotary memberthereto, means to prevent the locking of the bolt, and means fordisconnecting the driving power, operating to release the bolt.

EDWARD W. BLUM.

Attest GEORGE A. TURRELL, K. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of ZPatents, Washington, D. C.

